![]() I’ve heard of people using 99% isopropyl alcohol, methylated spirits, or Bacardi 151. In a pinch, you can also use other fuels in a Zippo lighter, including butane, naptha (also called white gas or Coleman fuel), or gasoline. It also works better in freezing temperatures than butane lighters. On the plus side, Zippo fluid is made of a petroleum distillate which ignites easily and burns cleanly. While Zippo lighters last virtually forever (you can even buy antique Zippos, which work fine), the flint and wick will need to be replaced eventually. Zippos are meant for regular smokers who want a cool, personalized lighter. If you don’t light the Zippo often, the fuel might evaporate in just 3-4 days.īecause Zippo fuel evaporates quickly, they aren’t recommended for camping or emergency prep. An odd thing about Zippo lighters is that the fuel lasts longer if you use it frequently. At best, expect a Zippo to last 10 days before refueling. This can result in fuel leakage (and a nasty rash on your skin).Īir exposure means Zippo fuel will evaporate quickly. The downside, however, is that the eyelet which exposes the fuel-filled wick is always exposed. You can even leave a Zippo burning like a candle. Unlike disposable sparkwheel lighters, a Zippo wick will stay lit until you cut off the oxygen supply by closing the lid. This creates a spark that ignites fluid in a wick. They work by spinning a sparkwheel against a flint inside the Zippo. Zippo lighters have been around for nearly 100 years. Not reliable – the ignition often fails.Don’t work well in windy or wet conditions.Read about how to start a fire with no matches. In a SHTF situation, you can use an empty sparkwheel light to create a flame. However, because they are so cheap, most people treat them as disposable. Note that many plastic sparkwheel lighters are actually refillable (see how to refill a BIC lighter). The spark ignites the fuel and produces a flame. Pressing down on the “fork” (the plastic lever below the sparkwheel) opens a valve so fuel can be released. When you spin the wheel with enough speed, it rubs on the flint and creates a spark. These are plastic lighters that have a wheel made out of serrated steel. For example, utility lighters can also be spark ignition or electric arc lighters. ![]() Note that there is a lot of crossover in these types of lighters.
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